School performance improving across the board in Swansea

A report into council services in Swansea has praised improvements in school performance in recent years.

From the time they start nursery school to when they finish their GGSE exams, pupils in the city are performing well above or to the standards expected of youngsters in schools in Wales.

The evaluation by Estyn, which is the education inspectorate for Wales, was contained in the Wales Audit Office Annual Improvement Report which went before a full meeting of Swansea Council.

Cabinet member for Education, Jen Raynor, said there were many highlights but she was particularly pleased to see the performance by pupils eligible for free school meals has improved across all main indicators at all ages.

Cllr Raynor added: "Education is a top priority for Swansea Council and it was very pleasing that this report went to all councillors so they could see the success story the improvements in our schools has become.

"These achievements are down to a lot of hard work by our Education Department, the schools and of course the pupils and their families."

Estyn found performance in the Foundation Phase in Swansea (ages 3 to 7) has improved strongly over the last four years.

At Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11), performance in the core subjects in 2015 was above the all-Wales average.

At Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 14), Estyn said there had been rapid improvements in core subjects during the last five years.

Attainment by GCSE pupils has also been improving and is above the benchmark performance set by the Welsh Government. The proportion of pupils achieving five A star or A grades or the equivalent is higher than the Welsh average.

Cllr Raynor added: "It is also pleasing to note the Estyn report recognises that attendance has also improved over the last two years in both primary and secondary schools."